Containers having perforated shrink wrap sleeves

ABSTRACT

A container having a container body that can have a circumference/perimeter variation along a vertical axis, a bottom surface, and a container opening having a top surface; an axially oriented shrink wrap sleeve covering a portion of the body of the container having a circumference variation and the container opening; the shrink wrap sleeve having a pair of generally vertical perforations descending from the shrink wrap top edge towards a circumferential perforation ring oriented below the container opening. The axially oriented shrink wrap sleeve covering a portion of the container body circumference variation has a greater or lesser circumference at at least one point between the perforation ring and the bottom edge of the shrink wrap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/460,633, filed Apr. 30, 2012, which is a continuation ofInternational Appl. No. PCT/US2011/047750, filed Aug. 15, 2011, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Appl. Ser. No. 61/374,027, filed Aug. 16,2010, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present products and methods relate to packaging, and in particularto easy open containers having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve.

BACKGROUND

Sealing product containers, labeling container contents and providingevidence that a container has not been opened are known usingheat-shrinkable films (‘shrink wrap’). Applying such films are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,129 to Kawasaki and U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,230 toMarino et al., the specifications of which are incorporated byreference. Shrink wrap applications can be economically applied to avariety of containers for a variety of products, such as food orpharmaceutical applications.

Despite the advantages of heat shrink films, shrink wrap packaging cansometimes be difficult for irregularly shaped containers. In such cases,shrink wrap can be difficult to apply, difficult to remove, anddifficult to provide printed matter without noticeable distortion.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, provided herein are embodiments for perforated shrink wrapsleeves and containers with perforated shrink wrapped sleeves configuredto provide easy partial removal, evidence of tamper, and productlabeling—even with irregularly shaped and non-symmetrical containers.

A preferred embodiment provides a container having a container body thatcan have a circumference/perimeter variation along a vertical axis, abottom surface, and a container opening having a top surface; an axiallyoriented shrink wrap sleeve covering a portion of the body of thecontainer having a circumference variation and the container opening, atop edge of the shrink wrap sleeve allowing the top surface to remainexposed, and bottom edge of the shrink wrap sleeve allowing the bottomsurface to remain exposed; the shrink wrap sleeve having a pair ofgenerally vertical perforations descending from the shrink wrap top edgetowards a circumferential perforation ring oriented below the containeropening. In some embodiments, the axially oriented shrink wrap sleevecovering a portion of the container body circumference variation has agreater circumference as compared to adjacent portions of thecircumference variation at at least one point between the shrink wraptop (or alternately shrink wrap circumferential perforation ring) andbottom edges.

In other embodiments the axially oriented shrink wrap sleeve covering aportion of the container body circumference variation can have a smallercircumference as compared to adjacent portions of the circumferencevariation at at least one point between the shrink wrap horizontalperforations and bottom edges. Circumference variation can be in therange of about 5 percent to about 200 percent, and preferably about 100percent.

Generally vertical perforations descending from the shrink wrap top edgecan converge progressively closer together as they approach thecircumferential ring. The vertical perforations descending from theshrink wrap top edge can terminate at the circumferential ring oralternately about two perforations above the circumferential ring. Sucha distance corresponds to the length between two perforations or more ofthe generally vertical perforations.

In other embodiments, the shrink wrap vertical perforations descendingfrom the shrink wrap top edge can begin with an initial perforation cut,followed by proportionally smaller perforation cuts, configured so thatwhen the shrink wrap is applied to the container body, the larger cutforms as ‘V’ shape at a top of each vertical perforation to define a tabbetween the vertical perforations.

The container body can generally have a planar front and rear surface,and a seal of the shrink wrap is vertically oriented along an edge ofthe rear surface.

In a specific embodiment, the container can have a container body havinga vertical axis, a bottom surface, and a container opening having a topsurface; a vertically oriented shrink wrap sleeve covering a portion ofthe container body and the container opening, a top edge of the shrinkwrap sleeve allowing the top surface to remain exposed, and bottom edgeof the shrink wrap sleeve allowing the bottom surface to remain exposed;the shrink wrap sleeve having a pair of generally vertical perforationsdescending from the shrink wrap sleeve top edge towards acircumferential perforation ring oriented below the container opening.

In another specific embodiment, the container can have a container bodyhaving a circumference variation along a vertical axis, a bottomsurface, and a container opening having a top surface; a verticallyoriented shrink wrap sleeve covering a portion of the circumferencevariation of the container body and the container opening, a top edge ofthe shrink wrap sleeve allowing the top surface to remain exposed, andbottom edge of the shrink wrap sleeve allowing the bottom surface remainexposed; the shrink wrap sleeve having a pair of generally verticalperforations descending from a distance below the shrink wrap sleeve topedge towards a circumferential perforation ring oriented below thecontainer opening.

Embodiments of a shrink wrap sleeve suitable for use for covering aportion of a container along a vertical axis having a circumferencevariation can have a top edge and bottom edge; the shrink wrap sleevehaving a pair of generally vertical perforations descending from theshrink wrap sleeve top edge towards a circumferential perforation ring.Optional features of the present embodiments can include printed indiciaand adhesive to bond the container to the shrink wrap sleeve. The shrinkwrap sleeve of claim 14 can be a polyolefin, a polymer such aspolyethylene terephthalate (PET), a copolymerized polyethyleneterephthalate (PETG), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG LV),polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), andcombinations thereof. Preferably the shrink wrap sleeve is a PETG, andeven a PETG LV. The shrink wrap film can have a gauge of between about40 to 55 microns, and preferably about 45 microns. The shrink wrapsleeve can have a shrinkage rate of about 75 percent to about 85percent, and a shrinkage ratio of about 2:1.

Other features will become more apparent to persons having ordinaryskill in the art to which the package pertains and from the followingdescription and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, as well as other features, will become apparentwith reference to the description and Figures below, in which likenumerals represent like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve with a firstperforation peeled away;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve with a firstperforation removed and a second perforation peeled partially away;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve with a first and secondperforation peeled away;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve;

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrink wrapsleeve in a front planar view (6 a) and as a side view placed on acontainer (6 b);

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrinkwrap sleeve in a front planar view (7 a) and as a side view placed on acontainer (7 b);

FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrinkwrap sleeve in a front planar view (8 a) and as a side view placed on acontainer (8 b);

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrinkwrap sleeve in a front planar view (9 a) and as a side view placed on acontainer (9 b);

FIG. 10 illustrates a fifth embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrinkwrap sleeve in a front planar view (10 a) and as a side view placed on acontainer (lob);

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of an exemplary perforated shrinkwrap sleeve in a rear planar view;

FIG. 12 illustrates a blank of one embodiment of a shrink wrap sleevefor a container; and

FIG. 13 is a front planar view of second embodiment of an exemplarycontainer having a perforated shrink wrap sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Provided herein are embodiments for perforated shrink wrap sleeves andcontainers with perforated shrink wrapped sleeves configured to provideeasy partial removal, evidence of tamper, and product labeling—even withirregularly shaped and non-symmetrical containers.

Generally, the present embodiments illustrate a cost efficient and easyopen feature for consumers to obtain full product access. As described,the present embodiments can provide printed surfaces to provide graphicsand other types of printed information on a shrink wrapable film thatcan be transparent, translucent, opaque, or variations/combinationsthereof. Metallic inks can also be provided to provide a silver ormetallic hue. To accommodate container shape irregularities, a maximumto minimum shrinkage ratio should be at least 2:1. It is noted thatvarious product container sizes are possible so long as the shrink wrapcan be maintained thereon even after a partial band of film has beenremoved. Preferably, the shrink wrap film is applied as a sleeve. When acontainer bottom is present, it is preferably not encapsulated by theshrink wrap. On top tapered containers, the sleeve should terminate at aheight on the container so that no ‘puckering’ would occur. For example,for the container embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 13, a sleeve isshown that is proportioned to reduce any evidence of a ‘pucker’ near thetop and is not present on the bottom to allow the container to stand onits own.

The perforations of the present embodiments can permit removal of shrinkwrap above the shoulder area, which allows access to a containeropening, such as a flip top cap. The shrink wrap perforations provide atamper evident feature in that once the perforations have been breached(ruptured) and/or a partial band of film material has been removed, itis visually obvious that the container has been opened. There areseveral perforation patterns described within the present embodiments,though it is noted that several other variations are possible.Nevertheless, the general features of the perforation patterns canprovide two separate perforation types. A first pattern can be a pair ofperforations axially oriented to the sleeve to form a tab; and a secondpattern can be a generally circumferential ring pattern perpendicular tothe axially oriented perforations to define an upper band for removal.The axial pair of perforations can terminate at or near (e.g., 1-5 mm or1-3 perforations) above the circumferential ring. The patterns can beconfigured to remove the upper band of material in one motion or byremoving first a vertical tab, and then the remaining portion of theupper band. The material for the shrink wrap should be configured towithstand multiple container flexing (e.g., at least 50 times). Thisfeature is useful for a container that contains products, such as abeverage concentrate, that require the container to be squeezed todeliver product.

Turning now to the Figures, a container having a perforated shrink wrapsleeve is generally indicated at 10. As shown, the container 10 can beused to dispense a liquid concentrate in a desirable manner. Thecontainer 10 can include desirable properties, for example, toconsistently discharge across a range of squeezed forces, generallyconsistent discharge with the same force without significant dependenceon the amount of liquid concentrate in the container, a substantiallydripless or leak proof outlet opening, a jet that minimizes splashingwhen the liquid concentrate enters another liquid, and a jet thatmaximizes mixing between the liquid concentrate and the other liquid.The container 10 utilizes some or all of these properties whiledispensing a jet of the liquid concentrate into a target containerhaving a target liquid therein. The container 10 described herein candispense a liquid concentrate in such a way as to enter the targetliquid without substantial splashing or splatter while also causingsufficient turbulence or mixing within the target container between theliquid concentrate and the target liquid to form a generally homogenousend mixture without the use of extraneous utensils or shaking.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 13, exemplary forms of the container 10 areshown with at least some, and preferably all, of the above properties.The container can include a closed, first end 12 and a top, second end14 having a hinged flip top cap 16 secured to a back surface 23 by ahinge 44. The first end 12 and the flip top cap 16 can be connected by agenerally tubular sidewall 18, which can take any suitable crosssection, including any polygonal shape, any curvilinear shape, or anycombination thereof, to form a container interior. Preferably, thecontainer 10 can be sized for any number of uses and can specifically bein the range of 20 to 200 cc.

Exemplary shapes of the container 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 13in which the first end 12 acts as a secure base for the container 10 torest upon. The sidewall 18 can generally extend upward from the base orfirst end 12 to the second end 14. In the form of FIG. 1, the container10 can have a generally ‘egg’ shape, where front and rear surfaces 21and 23 respectively are curved to provide an ergonomic container shape.In another example in FIG. 13, the sidewalls 18 can include a ‘waist’ 80so that the container 10 has an ‘hourglass’ shape on its front planarview.

Partially covering the container 10, including a seam for the flip topcap 16 can be a perforated shrink wrap sleeve 30 having two perforationpatterns including generally a pair of vertical perforations 32extending downward toward a horizontal (circumferential) perforationring 34. The shrink wrap sleeve 30 can be a polyolefin such aspolyethylene terephthalate (PET), a copolymerized polyethyleneterephthalate (PETG), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG LV—such assold as a film by GILBRETH, Croydon, Pa., USA), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and combinations thereof(or other shrinkable films). Preferably, the shrink wrap sleeve 30 isPETG. The gauge of the shrink wrap sleeve 30 can be about 40 to 55microns, preferably about 45 microns. Shrinkage of the shrink wrapsleeve 30 can be at a shrinkage rate of about 75 percent to about 85percent (preferably about 76 percent) and have a shrink ratio selectedto preferably withstand a shrinkage ratio of about 2:1. The shrink wrapsleeve 30 can provide printed surfaces for graphics and other types ofprinted information or indicia on film that can be transparent,translucent, opaque, or various combinations thereof. Metallic inks canalso be provided to provide a silver or metallic hue.

In the present embodiments, the container 10 preferably has a bodyhaving a circumference variation along an axis oriented to receive theshrink wrap sleeve 30, such as a vertical axis. It is noted thatcircumference by the present term can mean a perimeter variation and caninclude circles, ellipses and other various curvilinear or geometricshaped cross-sections. By way of illustration, container 10 isconfigured to receive a shrink wrap sleeve 30 along a vertical axis. Theportion of the container body covered by shrink wrap sleeve 30 can havea circumference variation having a greater (FIG. 1, 18) or lesser (FIG.13, 80) circumference at at least one point between the shrink wraphorizontal perforation ring 34 and a shrink wrap bottom edge 20 ascompared to adjacent portions of the circumference. Alternately, theportion of the container body covered by the shrink wrap sleeve 30 canhave a circumference variation having a greater (FIG. 1, 18) or lesser(FIG. 13, 80) circumference at at least one point between the shrinkwrap top edge 22 and the shrink wrap bottom edge 20 as compared toadjacent portions of the circumference. This variation can preferablyrange from about 5 percent to about 200 percent, and most preferably atabout 100 percent. Printing on a blank 28 (FIG. 12) for the shrink wrapsleeve 30 can have its printing distorted to accommodate circumferencevariation once the shrink wrap film has been applied to the container.For example, for the container 10 of FIG. 1 having a film height ofabout 80 mm and placed as shown in FIG. 1, distortion rates can be basedon the following distortion percentage TABLE as follows:

TABLE Percent distortion Vertical bottle height position (mm) 135 62-80117 50-62 110 15-50 120  0-15

The axial circumference variation can prevent the shrink wrap seal fromslipping off the container before and/or after an upper band of shrinkwrap is removed to expose a container opening, such as the illustratedflip top cap 16 and allow it to be opened for product removal.Alternately, an adhesive can be applied between the container 10 bodyand an inner surface of the shrink wrap sleeve 30 in variousconfigurations.

The perforation patterns for the present embodiments can be varied butpreferentially include a generally circumferential ring of perforationsgenerally perpendicular to the vertical perforations 32. Horizontalperforations 34 for a vertically oriented shrink wrap sleeve 30, asillustrated, generally define an upper edge of the shrink wrap sleeve 30remaining after the upper band 38 is removed to expose the containeropening for product removal.

A second aspect of the shrink wrap sleeve 30 perforations is a pair ofperforations that can run generally perpendicular to the circumferentialring of perforations. As illustrated for a vertically oriented shrinkwrap sleeve, generally vertical perforations 32 can descend from theshrink wrap top edge 22 towards the horizontal ring perforation ring 34,which is oriented below access to the flip top cap 16. Access to fliptop cap 16 can be by way of a recession portion 52 under a ledge 54.Again, many perforation pattern variations are possible within the scopeof the embodiments. FIGS. 6-10 illustrate just a sample of these typesof variations. The vertical perforations 32 can be parallel, converge,or expand as they extend (here, descend) towards the circumferentialperforation ring 34. The vertical perforations 32 can terminate at thehorizontal ring 34 or terminate at some point above the horizontal ring34.

As illustrated, the vertical perforations preferably converge as theyapproach the horizontal ring 34. FIG. 6 a shows a perforation patternfor a shrink wrap sleeve ready for placement and heat shrinking onto thecontainer body 10. FIG. 6 b illustrates the shrink wrap sleeve 30 afterit has been applied to the container 10 and affixed to the container byheat shrinking or other means known in the art to shrink a film on acontainer. FIGS. 7-10 illustrate similar views for alternate perforationpattern embodiments. It is noted that any feature or the variousembodiments can be interchanged within the other embodiments.

As to FIG. 6, the vertical perforations 32 converge as they approach andterminate at the horizontal line 34. Large cuts 66 are added to the topend of the vertical perforations 32 to provide a splitting effect, a “V”72, when applied to the container 10. The pair of “V”s 72 provides apeel tab 74 to allow easy removal by a user. It is noted that as a userpulls on the peel tab 74, a vertical tab 36 is generated as the shrinkwrap ruptures between the perforations. It is also noted that anyruptured patterns allow a visual inspection of the container to revealwhether the container has ever been opened or tampered with after shrinkwrapping has been placed on the container.

FIG. 7 shows a variation of the position of the large cut 66 below thetop edge 22 of the shrink wrap sleeve 30. In other words, the large cut66 is placed below one or more normal perforation cuts on the top edgeof the sleeve 30. In this instance, the heat shrinking separates theshrink wrap to form a circular opening to assist in developing avertical tab 36 without forming a distinct peel tab 74.

FIG. 8 shows a variation of the perforation pattern by terminating thevertical perforations 32 before they reach the horizontal ring 34. Thiscan be defined by not placing one, two, or three perforations before itreaches horizontal ring 34. For a container of about 80 mm in height,this non-perforated area 68 can have a dimension 70 of about 1 to 5 mm,and preferably about 1 to 2 mm. FIG. 9 illustrates where only one ofvertical perforations 32 has a non-perforated area 68.

FIG. 10 illustrates a horizontal cut 78 so that as the vertical tab 36is removed (See, e.g., FIG. 2) it separates from the shrink wrap sleeve30 when it reaches the horizontal perforation ring.

In use, as shown in the sequence of FIGS. 2-4, a user can pinch the tab74 and pull the shrink wrap toward the horizontal ring 34 to form thevertical tab 36 (FIG. 1). Depending on the perforation pattern, a usercan continuously pull the vertical tab 36 until it approaches thehorizontal ring 34, followed by a horizontal pull (FIG. 2) to continuethe shrink wrap rupture of the horizontal ring perforations until anupper shrink wrap band 38 is removed (FIG. 3). Once the band 38 isremoved, the lower shrink wrap band 40 remains and the product is readyfor use.

The shrink wrap 30 can be formed by a blank 28 from a continuous film ofPETG as shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 12, cut lines 50 define thesize of the sleeve blank 28 as well as fold lines 48, seal area 42, copylimit 56, no live copy 58, no legal information 60 (since that portionon the shrink wrap will be removed prior to use), front panel print 62,and rear panel print 64. Once a blank has been formed, the film issealed at the seal area 42 and the perforations 32 and 34 are added toform the shrink wrap seal that is ready for placement on the container10. It is noted that there are limitless variations that are possible toforming blanks for heat shrinking onto a container.

While preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variationsand modifications can be effected within the cope of the presentedembodiments.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A container containing a liquid beverageconcentrate, the container comprising: a container body holding theliquid beverage concentrate; a flip top cap on the container body, theflip top cap having a hinged part and an outlet opening, wherein thehinged part covers the outlet opening when the hinged part is in aclosed position and the outlet opening is configured to dispense a jetof the liquid beverage concentrate when the hinged part is in an openposition; a seam for the flip top cap; and a shrink wrap sleevecomprising an upper band and a lower band, the upper and lower bandsdetachably connected along a perforation ring, wherein the lower bandcovers the seam and wherein when the upper band is detached from thelower band, the hinged part is moveable into the open position.
 21. Thecontainer of claim 20, wherein at least one vertical perforationdescends from an edge of the upper band toward the perforation ring. 22.The container of claim 20, wherein two vertical perforations converge asthey descend from an edge of the upper band toward the perforation ring.23. The container of claim 20, wherein the perforation ring is disposedbetween the hinged part and the seam.
 24. The container of claim 23,wherein a distance between the perforation ring and the hinged part isless than a distance between the perforation ring and the seam.
 25. Thecontainer of claim 20, wherein a top portion of the flip top cap isexposed when the upper band is connected to the lower band.
 26. Thecontainer of claim 20, wherein a circumference of the containercontinuously decreases from the seam to the perforation ring.
 27. Thecontainer of claim 20, wherein the flip top cap further comprises aprotruding hinge and wherein a top edge of the upper band terminates ata height such that the hinge is completely covered by the shrink wrapsleeve such that there are no gaps between the top edge of the upperband and the hinged part above the hinge.
 28. The container of claim 20,wherein the container has a maximum circumference at a position betweenthe perforation ring and an end of the container opposite the flip topcap.
 29. The container of claim 28, wherein a circumference of thecontainer at the perforation ring is less than the maximumcircumference.
 30. The container of claim 28, wherein a circumference ofthe container at at least one terminal end of the shrink wrap sleeve isless than the maximum circumference.
 31. The container of claim 20,wherein the container body comprises: a circumference variation along avertical axis; a bottom surface that supports the container in anupright position; a front surface and a rear surface; and a pair ofsidewalls extending between the front and rear surfaces, wherein thefront and rear surfaces have a greater maximum width than the sidewalls.32. The container of claim 31, wherein the front and rear surfaces aresubstantially planar.
 33. The container of claim 31, wherein thecircumference variation along the vertical axis is predominately from acurvature of the sidewalls.
 34. The container of claim 31, wherein aterminal end of the shrink wrap sleeve is spaced from the bottomsurface.
 35. The container of claim 33, wherein the flip top cap furthercomprises a protruding hinge and wherein a top edge of the upper bandterminates at a height such that the hinge is completely covered by theshrink wrap sleeve such that there are no gaps between the top edge ofthe upper band and the hinged part above the hinge.